Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill to be taken up this week

• The Bill provides provisions to rehabilitate aragalaya members 
• Government earlier assured that the Bill would be amended in such a way that provisions will be provided only to rehabilitate drug addicts

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana  

Parliament is to take up the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill which provides provisions to rehabilitate aragalaya members this week.

A statement from the Parliament media unit which quoted Secretary General Dhammika Dasanayake said the business committee of the House has decided to take up the debate on this Bill on Wednesday January 18.  
“It has also been decided to hold the debate on the second reading of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Bill on Wednesday, January 18 from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm,” the statement said.  

The government earlier assured that the Bill would be amended in such a way that provisions will be provided only to rehabilitate drug addicts.  

The second reading of the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill (No. 126) presented by SJB MP Imithiaz Bakeer Markar and the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Bill (No. 160) presented by MP Premnath C. Dolawatte are to be taken up today.  

Meanwhile, the Election Expenditure Bill under which the spending for election campaigns will be limited is likely to be taken up subjected to the approval of party leaders on Wednesday.